Page 30 of Sweet Redemption
“That’s enough, old man,” Markus hissed. “Maybe this was a bad mistake coming here.” Markus threw his napkin onto his plate and stood, slowly this time.
“Markus,” I said evenly, grabbing his hand.
“No, Charlie.” He turned to me and smiled that didn’t quite reach his eyes, “I want to go. I’m sorry for bringing you here.” He tugged on my hand and gently pulled me to my feet.
“I’m sorry. Stay,” Markus Sr. uttered in a shaky tone. He raked both hands through his thinning hair. He stood and walked over to me. “I’m sorry, Charlie.”
I looked up at my Markus, who was still very angry. He shook his head.Merde!I hated being in the middle. His father was pleading with me to stay while Markus was pulling me away.
Squeezing Markus’s hand, I whispered, “Let’s stay. Please, for me. For a little bit more.”
“I don’t want you to be around this bullshit—the same crap he pulled when we were kids. It’s disrespectful and I’m not going to sit here and listen to it anymore. I won’t have it.”
I leaned in close, so only he could hear me. “Markus. What your father said didn’t affect me in any way. I know myself and I’m proud of who I am. But the reason why we’re here, is for you. For your mother’s funeral. He is your father and I’ll do whatever you want, but…for your mother’s sake, let’s try to stay civil, eat our breakfast and ignore the…trash your father spews. Okay?” I leaned in even closer to absorb his heat, smiled, trying to coax a smile out of him.
Instead of a smile, Markus leaned in and gave me a kiss that knocked my proverbial socks off. Right in front of his family. Right in front of his father, which made me blush from embarrassment.
He pulled back, eyes twinkled with mischief. “Charlie, are you sure?”
“You are bad. And yes, let’s stay for a little bit,” I countered and pinched his stomach.
He snagged my hand and raised it to his lips. “Okay. But I just have to say, you’re wonderful—and you owe me,” he said with a wink.
“Then as the wonderful person that I am, I guess I’ll have to show you how much.” I winked back.
Markus led me back to the table and we finished our meal without another word from his father.
